Northern Beaches Council are considering data for a possible demerger.
During Council’s monthly meeting in April, Councillor Miranda Korzy moved a motion to hold a Poll at the September Local Government Elections to judge community support for de-amalgamation.
‘Council set up to serve 250,000 residents across more than 25,000 hectares,’ says Simon Dunn, President of Protect Pittwater at the April meeting’s public forum, describing the merger as a flawed policy. ‘No matter how hard you work, you cannot be across every important issue.’
In December of 2015, former Liberal Premier Mike Baird proposed an upheaval of New South Wales’ councils, where over 40 councils would be reduced to 19.
Warringah Council, using Section 218F of the Local Government Act 1993, proposed the merger of Warringah, Manly, and Pittwater. The Local Government Boundaries Commission issued a report to the Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole, which stated that the proposal met all the needed requirements.
The former Councils of Pittwater, Manly, and Warringah were amalgamated on the 12th of May, 2016. Together, they became known as Northern Beaches Council. Estimated financial savings of the merger, according to the KPMG analysis, would be $136 million over 20 years.
The NSW Parliament put forth a new bill in February of 2024 to provide local councils with a pathway to demerge.
‘The forced amalgamation of NSW councils was a failed and expensive experiment,’ says current Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig. ‘It’s essential that local democracy is enshrined in the decision-making process so that councils and communities are fully informed of the financial and other implications of de-amalgamation.’
After debate, Councillor Korzy’s April motion was amended to see Council receive an urgent report of the primary desktop analysis of financial realities in de-amalgamation. The report is to be considered at the June Ordinary Meeting, where Council can then resolve on the implementation of a Poll.
Councillors Grattan, Korzy, Heins, Menano-Pires, and Regan were against the amended motion. The motion was carried.
‘There is a vocal group within the community advocating for a demerger. However, I do not believe that is the general view of Pittwater residents,’ says Councillor Michael Gencher of the Pittwater Ward in a comment to The Post. ‘I believe that conducting a poll on whether to demerge the Northern Beaches Council would be beneficial… The decision should not be taken lightly and must be informed by thorough analysis and community consultation.’
De-amalgamation must be conducted within 10 years of Council’s merger. Whether a Poll to survey residents will be included in the upcoming elections is still pending.
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